Sprinkler control device



Jan. 14, 1947. v. L. SHAW SPRINKLER CONTROL DEVICE Filed Jan. 22. 1942 Patented Jan. 14, 1947 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SPRINKLER CONTROL DEVICE Vincent L. Shaw, Evanston, 111. Application January 22, 1942, Serial No. 427,683

Claims.

This invention relates to a sprinkler control device, and more particularly for a control adapted for use'in connection with the usual fusible link sprinkler head. That is, a sprinkler head having a valve which is retained closed by means of toggle levers having arms secured together by means of a fusible link and adapted to retain the valve in normally closed position. The valve is permanently opened by extinguishing fluid pressure when the link is fused at a predetermined temperature. Such sprinkler heads are well known in the art.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a control means in combination with a sprinkler head in which there is no pressure fluid flow to the sprinkler head below a predetermined room temperature, which temperature is less than the temperature required to fuse the link of the sprinkler head.

It is also an object to provide a control device having a substantially extinguishing fluid pressure balanced valve biased to closed position, and which will retain its substantially balanced condition irrespective of variations in extinguishing fluid pressure.

Another object is to provide temperature control means for opening the balanced valve at a temperature somewhat less than the temperature required to fuse the retaining link'of the usual sprinkler head, and to again close the balanced valve when the temperature is reducedto a predetermined degree. v

A further object is to provide a. control device for use in connection with the usual temperature controlled sprinkler head in which the control device Will prevent flow from the sprinkler head outlet except at predetermined high room temperature, in the event that the sprinkler head valve is accidentally or otherwise opened.

The device is particularly adapted to conserve the pressure in a sprinkler system by closing the sprinkler head outlet when the room temperature is materially reduced after the sprinkler heads have been put into operation. Fusible means is also provided for permanently opening the control valve in the event that the room temperature control therefor fails to function.

It is also'an' object to provide a sprinkler control device which will be cheap to manufacture, easy to assembleand install, and which will not easily get out of order.

Further objects willbe apparent from the specification and appended claims. v

In the drawing: Y Fig. 1-is an axial sectional view through a'control valve and sprinkler head associated there wlth.

Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic view of one type of installation for which the device is adapted.

Referring to the drawing in detail, the em bodiment illustrated in Fig. 1 comprises a control valve l and a fusible type sprinkler head and valve unit 2 associated therewith.

It will be understood that the sprinkler head may be positioned at a distance from'the control valve I, if desired, and connected thereto by means of a suitable conduit. Also, the entire device may be in the vertical position shown in Fig. 1 or it may be installed in inverted position, if desired.

The control valve l comprises a nipple portion 3, preferably externally threaded at 4, as shown, for attachment to a suitable fluid pressure system. Thenipple 3 forms the base portion of a valve housing, which housing includes a casing 5 threaded on, or otherwise secured, to the nipple as shown to form a pressure chamber 6. The nipple 3 provides an inlet passage 1, which inlet communicates with the pressure chamber 6 through suitable lateral openings 8. The opposite end wall of the casing 5 is provided witha valved outlet passage 9 communicating with a so-called dry chamber IB formed by means of a second casing or cap ll threaded at 12 onto the casing 5.

The dry chamber casing II is provided with an internally threaded nipple portion l2 into which the frame I3 of the sprinkler head 2 is threaded, or, as previously stated, the sprinkler head may be remote from the control valve and connected thereto by means of a suitable conduit.

The sprinkler head 2 is provided with an outlet passage l4, which passage is normally closed by means of a valve l5. This valve is normally retained closed by .the usual toggle levers IS, the arms of which are secured together by means of a fusible link H. The valve pressure on the valve seat may be controlled by means of a set screw I8. The fusible link l1 may be of an appropriate type, so that it will fuse at a predetermined temperature and the valve l5 will therefore be permanently opened by fluid pressure from the sprinkling system.

It will be obvious that any desired type of temperature controlled sprinkler head may be used in connection with the control valve Land it is believed that further description of the sprinkler.

head will be unnecessary.

The nipple 3 is provided with an axial upstand ing portion l9 extending into the pressure chamher 6 and having "an annular flange 20 to which flange is secured an expansible bellows or Sylphon 2|. The free end of this Sylphon 2| is closed by means of a cup-like depressed portion 22, which latter is threaded at 23 to receive a valve stem 24 extending through the passage 9 between the pressure chamber and the dry chamber. A control disc valve 25 is secured to the valve stem 24 by means of a fusible bushing 26. The valve cooperates with a substantially knife-edged valve seat 21 extending into the dry chamber Ill. The area of the free end of the bellows 2| and of the valve disc 25 are so related that the valve is substantially fluid pressure balanced; therefore, there is no substantial tendency for the valve to move under any variation of pressure in the pressure chamber 6.

In order to normally retain the valve closed, it is biased toward closed position by means of a coiled spring 21' positioned around the valve stem 24 and between the'sylphon 2| and 'a washer-like disc 28, which disc is seated against the wall of the casing and isprovided-with passages 29 therethrough to provide a substantially unobstructed fluid flow when the valve is open. It will be apparent thatif the Sylphon 2| isuexpanded, the valve will be opened against the biasing pressure of the spring 21, but that the fluid pressure in the sprinkler system will have no effect upon the operation of the valve.

The upper'wall of the dry chamber H3 is provided with downwardly extending spaced lugs |-|'a to limit the movement of the valve. The fusible bushing 26 is provided so that if the Sylphon 2| fails to operate or in any othermanner the device fails .to .function properly, .a predetermined Jhightemperature will vfuse the bushing-and release the valve disc 25, which latter is then held open by extinguishing fluid pressure.

The housing is provided with a rlaterally extending hood 3 0, and a thermostatic bulb 3| containing a volatile or heat-expansible fluid is supported in this housing and communicates with the Sylphon 2| through a'conduit 32 and a restricted passage '33 in the nipple 3. The expansionof the volatile fluid in the bulb 3| functions'at a predetermined temperature to expand the bellows 2| and thereby open the valve 25. The predetermined temperature at which the control'valve opens is preferably somewhat below the required temperature for fusing the link H of the sprinkler head; therefore, 'until the temperature rises to the "predetermined .degree at which theSylphon is adapted to function to-open the control 'valve, there will :benoeflective extinguishing fluid pressure applied tothe sprinkler head, and therefore, no leakage'even though the sprinkler .head valve should be accidentally opened.

It will also be apparent that after the sprinkler head has been in operation because of the opening of the valve 25 by the Sylphon 3| and the releasing of the valve It by the fusing -.of the link and as soon as the room temperature has been sufliciently reduced, the control valve 2.5 will automaticallyclose to cut oil the flow of extinguishing fluid. The device, therefore, acts to conserve "the extinguishing fluid pressure in such parts of 'the sprinkler system as are still required to be in operation :and prevents excessive flooding-after a fire has been extinguished.

Fig. 2 diagrammatically illustrates one typeof I installationin which the sprinkler head 'zffiscon- .nected to the control valve 1 by .means-of-elon gated conduit 54. The sprinkler head may extend upwardly as shown, or it may be turned downwardly. The thermostatic bulb 3| may be connected to the control valve by means of an elongated conduit 32a, if desired.

The control valve and thermostatic bulb are adapted to be respectively positioned in locations best adapted to serve their purpose in the particular installation in which they are used.

It is intended, of course, that the invention shouldnot be limited to the specific embodiment or embodiments disclosed herein, since modifications may be made, and it is contemplated, therefore, by the appended claims to cover any such modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of this invention.

I-Iavingthus described this invention, what is claimed and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

-1. 'A sprinkler control valve comprising a housing having a fluid pressure inlet and an outlet forconnection to a sprinkler head, a valve to control said outlet, thermally controlled means to open said valve at apredetermined temperature, and fusible means to open said valve at a predetermined higher temperature.

2. A sprinkler control valve comprising a housing having a fluid pressure inlet and an outlet for connection to a sprinkler head, a valve to control said outlet, thermally controlled means to open and close said valve at respective predetermined temperatures and means fusible at a predetermined temperature to make said thermally controlled means ineffective to close said valve at any temperature.

3. A sprinkler control valve comprisinga housinghavinglin series an inlet for fluid pressure, a fluid pressure chamber, adry chamber, an outlet from said dry chamber, a sprinkler head means for connecting a sprinkler head to said outlet, a normally closed valve between said fluid pressure chamber and said dry chamber, said valve comprising a valve disc cooperating with a valve seat in said dry chamber, an expansible bellows mounted in said pressure chamber with its free end connected to said valve disc to open said valve by expansion of said bellows, the areas of the valve disc and bellows which are exposed to fluid pressure .in said pressure chamber on the higher pressure side of the valve port counterbalancing each other, resilient means normally biasing said valve to closed position, and a thermostatic pressure bulb outside said housing controlled by room temperature and communicating with said bellows to control the opening and closing of said valve at predetermined room temperatures.

4. A sprinkler head control valve comprising a valve casing having an inlet and an outlet, .21 valve for controlling the outlet, and means for controlling the opening and closing of said valve comprising an expansible chamber in said casing and secured to said valve and easing, one side of said valve and the outside of said chamber being exposed to the fluid pressure in said casing, the inside of said chamber not being iii-communication with the liquid in the valve casing, the valve opening and closing pressure forces on said valve and chamber due to the liquid pressure in the casing being substantially counterbalanced, said valve being spring biased to closed position, and temperature controlled means for opening and closing the valve comprising a thermostatic bulb, the interior of whichis in communication'with the interior of said chamber, said bulb being outside said casing and exposed t .room tempera ture.

comprising an expansible chamber in said casing 5 and secured to said valve and casing, one side of said valve and the outside of said chamber being exposed to the fluid pressure in said casing, the inside of said chamber not being in communication with the liquid in the valve casing, 10

6 the valve opening and closing pressure forces on said valve and chamber due to the liquid pressure in the casing being substantially counterbalanced, and temperature controlled means for opening and closing the valve comprising a thermostatic bulb, the interior of which is in communication with the interior of said chamber, said bulb being outside said casing and exposed to room temperature.

VINCENT L. SHAW. 

